How should Western democracies respond to the many millions of people who want to settle in their societies? Economists and human rights advocates tend to downplay the considerable cultural and demographic impact of immigration on host societies. Seeking to balance the rights of immigrants with the legitimate concerns of citizens, Strangers in Our Midst brings a bracing dose of realism to this debate. David Miller defends the right of democratic states to control their borders and decide upon the future size, shape, and cultural make-up of their populations.
“A cool dissection of some of the main moral issues surrounding immigration and worth reading for its introductory chapter alone. Moreover, unlike many progressive intellectuals, Miller gives due weight to the rights and preferences of existing citizens and does not believe an immigrant has an automatic right to enter a country…Full of balanced judgments and tragic dilemmas.” —David Goodhart, Evening Standard
“A lean and judicious defense of national interest…In Miller’s view, controlling immigration is one way for a country to control its public expenditures, and such control is essential to democracy.” —Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker
David Miller is Official Fellow and Professor of Political Theory at Nuffield College, Oxford.
Table of Contents
Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Chapter One. Introduction Chapter Two. Cosmopolitanism, Compatriot Partiality, and Human Rights Chapter Three. Open Borders Chapter Four. Closed Borders Chapter Five. Refugees Chapter Six. Economic Migrants Chapter Seven. The Rights of Immigrants Chapter Eight. Integrating Immigrants Chapter Nine. Conclusion Postscript: The European Migration Crisis of 2015 Notes Acknowledgments Index
